Regent's University London is a private non-profit university located in London, United Kingdom, created in 1984, and granted taught-degree conferring status from 2012-2013. It is one of four private universities (and one of two non-profit) in the country, and is one of six private institutions in the United Kingdom to have been granted taught degree awarding powers.[1] The university is the most international of all universities in the UK[citation needed]with 15 per cent of applicants from within the UK, 10 per cent from the United States and the rest from all over the world.

The university has its campus in Regent's Park, central London. It is one of the two largest groups of buildings in the park, along with the London Zoo, and was built on the site of South Villa, one of the original eight Regent's Park villas.

History

The main entrance of Regent's University London

In 1984 the lease on the South Villa Estate in Regent's Park was taken by the Illinois-based liberal arts collegeRockford College, as the campus for the newly established Regent's College, a higher education college intended to primarily provide American students with a study abroad programme.[2]

In 1985, Regent's College acquired the former campus of the University of London's Bedford College in Regent's Park. The site was leased by Bedford College in 1908, and a new set of buildings designed by the architect Basil Champneys was opened by Queen Mary in 1913. The buildings were modified and added to over the years, especially after bomb damage during the Second World War. Bedford College merged with Royal Holloway College (another college of the University of London) in 1985 and moved to Royal Holloway's campus at Egham in Surrey, vacating the premises in Regent's Park. Regent's College gradually expanded and the European Business School London moved to the College campus in 1987.[2]

In July 2012 it was announced that Regent's College had been awarded taught degree-awarding powers (TDAP) from 1 September 2012.[3] Institutions that have degree-awarding powers in the UK are known as "recognized bodies" of which there are over 150. In February 2013 Regent's College agreed to acquire American InterContinental University London from Career Education Corporation.[4] In March 2013 the UK's Department for Business Innovation and Skills announced that Regent's College had met the criteria to become a university.[5]

Organisation and administration

Governance

Regent's University London is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital.[6] It is a registered charity, registered at the Charity Commission under charity number 291583. The company's directors are also the Trustees and members of the charity.[6]

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the stewardship of the charity's assets, strategic decision-making and ensuring compliance with charitable objectives.[6] The newly appointed chair is Dr. Diana Walford CBE, formerly Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford. Day-to-day operational management is delegated to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior management employees.[6]

Finances

In the financial year ended 31 July 2014, Regent's University London had a total income of £53.17 million (2012/13 – £48.196 million) and total expenditure of £55.659 million (2012/13 – £46.466 million).[7] 85% of the total income generated was from tuition fees, and 50% and 45% of total expenditure were for operational costs and staff costs respectively.

At year end Regent's University London had total net assets of £21.115 million (31 July 2013 – £24.628 million).[7] Cash surplus for the period was £17.776 million vs. £20.189 million in the previous year.

The university offers means-tested bursaries, merit awards and awards from the Kevin Spacey Foundation Scholarships[citation needed]. In 2012/13 over 150 students received bursaries and scholarships ranging from a 25% discount in tuition fees to full fee waivers. Scholarship awards at Regent's University London are based on merit, for which anyone can apply. The accounts ending 31 July 2014 show that £1.459 million were paid out versus £0.85 million the previous year.

Strategy

Regent's University London will tackle growth through four core elements: organic growth, growth by acquisition, development of an internationlisation strategy, and to a lesser degree development of a federal model. Student number is anticipated to reach 6,000 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) by 2020 by which time it hopes to be the leading private 'not for profit' university in Europe. As of 13 October 2014 Regent's University London appears in a list of higher education institutions maintained by the Chinese Education Department, which makes recruitment of mainland Chinese students easier.

It is quoted in The New York Times (20th Jan 2013) that the University has ambitions to open campuses in Hong Kong, Eastern Europe and South America, and to acquire a design school as well as a law school as well as to gain American degree awarding powers. It is also working towards gaining research-degree awarding powers[citation needed]

Staff

Regent's University London had an average of 561 full-time equivalent staff during the year ended 31 July 2014 (509 in 2013), of whom 257 were academic staff and 304 were management and administration staff.[7]

Courses

Regent's University London offers a wide range of courses in Business and Management & the Arts and Humanities, including American and British degree programmes.[8] Undergraduate fees are currently about £15,000 per annum.[8] The University has a student-faculty ratio of 13 to 1,[8] and it is therefore able to provide small tutorial style classes in which students have at least twenty hours of contact a week with academic staff.

Applications can be made either on-line direct to the University or through UCAS, and from 2015 also via the Common Application. For some programmes there is a September and a January in-take every year.

Library Services

The libraries at Regent’s support teaching and learning

Park Campus Library

The library at Park Campus offers a range of space for study. The Tate library reading room, an open study area on the ground floor and a first floor are flexible study spaces. Bookable study rooms let students work together on projects and presentations. There are PCs and networked full-colour printer-copiers for producing works. A resource room with adjustable working space and a computer fitted with assistive software is available for students needing greater accessibility.

Marylebone Campus Library

The library based at Marylebone Campus offers a large space for study over two floors. The Library has both PCs and Macs available to use, all with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite. The Library also has a dedicated PC with AutoCAD, and scanning and full-colour printing and photocopying facilities.

Student life

Regent's University London currently has around 3,500 full-time students.[8]

Student Union

The Regent's University Student Union organises a range of clubs and societies, including Film Production, Finance and Investment, Model United Nations and Scandinavian.[9] The Union also organises the Students in Free Enterprise initiative.[9]

Sports

Sports facilities at the Regent's University London campus include a gym and fitness studio and basketball, tennis and volleyball courts.[9] In 2014, the Gym on campus was closed down, students now use off campus gyms for student fee